University Politecnica Catalunya is first to rollout this new technology

Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 3, 2009 – Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced it is providing Banco Santander, a major European financial institution, with new technology for its well established university identity card program in Spain. The company is supplying its high-end Optelio cards that offer EMV payment, multi-application identity for digital signature, strong authentication and secure contactless access to facilities. In addition, Gemalto delivers its Client strong authentication software solution to enable digital signature applications. These are implemented and supported by Acotec, a Gemalto Value Added Reseller (VAR) in Spain. University Politecnica Catalunya (UPC) is first to rollout out this technology in the country. In addition to Spain, Banco Santander is currently running its university identity card program in Latin America, Morocco, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Santander manages several million cards in use at 200 universities, 48 of which are in Spain.

As part of the program, students use their card as a Banco Santander EMV debit card. Spain, and many countries around the world, are migrating payment systems to the more secure EMV standard. Students can also use their card for a wide variety of services and applications. The new digital signature functionality allows students and professors to conveniently sign documents electronically, while at the same time helping universities comply with new laws requiring their use.

The contactless features on the Gemalto card enables secure access to buildings such as libraries, dormitories and gymnasiums. Students also use the card for secure access to the campus electronic networks, to pay in cafeterias, take out books from the library, store grades and personal documents, pay for laundry and photocopies, and for other student expenses. The university card is also used for students to gain access to public transportation in the cities of Burgos, Lerida, Malaga and Santander.

“We are proud to see the first implementation of EMV cards incorporating public key digital signature in a Spanish university. University Politecnica Catalunya (UPC) is leading the way to large-scale deployment of digital signature applications in Spain,” commented Vicente Prior, smart cards director of “Santander Universidades Global Division” del Área Tarjeta Inteligente de la División Global Santander Universidades. “We believe that this initiative will deliver better and faster services for students and will contribute to streamlining UPC’s electronic processes by reducing internal paperwork.”

“With its university cards containing Gemalto technology, Banco Santander is bringing more convenience and security to students in Spain,” added Philippe Cambriel, Executive Vice-President of the Secure Transactions Business Unit at Gemalto. “Gemalto is proud to support Banco Santander in contributing to the EMV migration in the country.”

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 40 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work–anytime, anywhere–has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

Contacts

Gemalto
Rémi Calvet
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 01 64 10
Mob: +33 (0) 6 22 72 81 58
E-mail: remi.calvet@gemalto.com

Aline Borne
T.: +33 (0)1 55 01 51 05
M.: +33 (0)6 16 29 87 04
E-mail: aline.borne@gemalto.com

TBWACorporate
Rebekah Lahey
Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 09 26 58
Mob : +33 (0) 6 07 21 08 77
E-mail: rebekah.lahey@tbwa-corporate.com